Spring hooking machines



9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 16, 1957 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER Feb. 14, 1961 R. J. SHOEMAKER SPRING HOOKING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1957 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER m ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 R. J. SHOEMAKER 2,971,545

SPRING HOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 R. J. SHOEMAKER SPRING nooxmc MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 16, 1957 R E K A w O WH m w VJ T R E B O R HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 R. J. SHOEMAKER 2,971,545

SPRING HOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 19 61 R. J. SHOEMAKER 2,971,545

SPRINGI-IOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 8

IS ATTORNEYS 1961 R. J. SHOEMAKER 2,971,545

SPRING HOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 R. J. sHoEmAKE 2,971,545

SPRING HOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER as ATTORNEYS SPRING HOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR ROBERT J. SHOEMAKER HI ATTORNEYS Unite SPRING HOOKING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1957, Ser. No. 659,647

9 Claims. or. 140-103 This invention relates to a novel means for forming loops on the ends of springs.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine for automatically forming loops on the ends of springs and which machine can be adjusted to form loops on the ends of springs of various lengths.

, A specific object of the invention is to provide a machine for forming the loops on both ends of a spring during a single operation, no matter What the length of the springs might be.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detailed View of the free end of the arm which carries a knife for spreading a loop on a spring, together with the upper anvil for bending the loops into proper position.

Fig. 4 is a righthand end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a lefthand end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a detail front elevation showing the knives for bending the loops on the spring in position just before the top and bottom anvils move into position to form the icons on the ends of the spring.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the top and bottom anvils in position to form the loops on the ends of the springs. I

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the machine taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the arm for operating the upper anvil of one of the spring forming devices.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the cam disk for operating the various mechanisms of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a detailed view. of a part of the mechanism for controlling the ejection of a spring from the machine and shown in partly moved position.

' Fig. 12 is a detail view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11, and shown in a further moved position.

Fig. 13 is adetailed view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and shown in a further moved position in which the spring is ejected. I

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a part of the connectors feeding a spring into forming position.

- Fig. 15 is a detail view, partly in cross section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14.

General description be adjusted to accommodate a varying number of lengths of springs.

In this operation the springs are fed through a tube into a position from which they are fed into the path of movement of a spring pusher, which pusher thereafter moves the spring into position on the anvils. After the spring is in position, operating arms, one for each end of the spring, are lowered in such a way that a knife first spreads the loops to move them into the path of an upper anvil, and thereatfer a lower anvil is moved upwardly, and as the upper anvil is moved downwardly, the loop is caught between the upper and lower anvils and bent into proper shape. After the loops are properly formed, the springs are fed out of the machine into a bin or hopper.

As illustrated in the drawings herein, the two operating arms are shown positioned to form the loops on the shortest length of spring to be bent by the present mechanism. The machine is so constructed that the one arm carrying a spreading knife in the upper anvil, together with the lower anvil, may be shifted sidewise to accommodate the springs of different lengths. In the present machine the righthand anvils are stationary, and the lefthand anvils are adjustable toward the left on the machine to accommodate the springs of various lengths.

Detailed description The main shaft 20 (Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 10) is supported in a base 21, having feet 22. Carried on the upper side of the base 21 is a bolster 23, carrying a roller bearing 24, which supports a main operating gear 25 secured to the main shaft 20. A rack 26 mounted in a frame 27, meshes with the teeth of the gear 25. The rack 26 may be operated by a hydraulic device or by any other suitable driving means. A tenon 28 is formed on the upper end of the shaft 20 and the tenon projects into an opening in the top frame 29.. The top frame 29 is supported by four posts 30, which project into the upper plate 29 and into the base 21. The posts 30 are recessed at their lower ends to fit into openings in the base 21. The posts 30 are best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 8 and 10.

Mounted on the gear 25, so as to be rotated therewith, is a cam disk 35 (Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 10). The cam disk 35 is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces to actuate the various mechanisms of the machine, which will be described in connection with the particular mechanism which they operate.

The springs to be looped are fed into position through a tube 36 (Fig. 2) from a hopper (not shown). The

movement of the springs through the tube 36 may be stop means 40, formed on a rockable arm 41 (Fig. 5),

pivoted on a stud 4-2. A spring 43 normally maintains the arm 41 in its clockwise position (Fig. 5 to maintain the stop means 40 in the path of the spring as it moves down the tube 36. The arm. 41 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 5) during a machine operation in the manner hereinafter described to withdraw the stop means 40, and release the spring which has been arrested thereby, so that the spring can be moved until arrested by the lefthand side (Fig. 2) of a block 44. Thereafter, when the arm 41 is rocked clockwise (Fig. 5). the stop means 40 engages the spring and forces it out of the tube and permits it to drop down a chute until it comes to rest in position opposite the end 45 of a spring pusher 46. The pusher 46 slides on a block 47, and is provided with a notched block 48. A plate 49 provides a finishing surface for the spring pusher 46, and maintains the upper end of a rocking arm 50 in position in a slot in the notched block 48. The arm 56 is pivoted on a stud '51 carried by a frame 52. Pivoted to the arm 50 is a plunger 53, slidably supported in a block 54, carried .by the frame 52. A spring 55 curled around the plunger 53, holds the arm 55, and the spring pusher 46 in normal position. The plunger 53 is supported by an arm 56. V

The arm 56 extends into the machine and overlies a plate 57, suspended on three rods '53 (Fig. 8). The left end of the plate 57 (Fig. 8) has secured thereto a block 59 and the righthand end of the plate 57 has secured thereto a block 6t). The rods '58 project through the blocks 59 and '69 to support the plate 57. The lower ends of the rods 58 are each provided with collars 61 on which the plate 57, block '59 and theblock 6%), respectively rest. A spring 62 is-wound around each rod 53 and maintains the plate 57 and blocks '59 and 69 in their respective lowermost positions.

The plate 57 carries two cam followers 63 and 64, which extend downwardly and into the path of earns 65 and 66, respectively. The cams 65 and .66 are formed on a block 67 secured to the periphery of the cam disk 35 by three screws 68.

When the cam disk 35 is rotated clockwise (Fig. 10), the cam edges 65 and 66 engage the cam followers 63 and 64 (Fig. 1), respectively, and raise the plate 57. As the plate 57 is'raised the plate engages the underside of the arm 56, thus raising the plunger 53 and rocking the arm 50 in a counter clockwise direction (Fig. 4) and in a clockwise direction (Fig. Rocking of the arm 50 moves the pusher 46, thus causing the end 45 thereof to engage the spring to be looped, and forcing the spring into a seat 70 formed in a block 71.

By referring to Fig. it will be noted that the cam edge 65 is formed on a comparatively narrow block, and therefore may have a tendency to yield when the cam edge 65 engages the cam follower 63. To back up the cam '65 a roller 72 is provided (see Fig. 5). The roller 72 is mounted on a bracket 73 supported by the base 21. The roller 72 is located immediately below the follower 63 and is spaced therefrom just enough to permit the bottom edge of the cam block 65 to ride on the roller when the cam edge 65 engages the follower 63.

After the spring to be looped has been fed onto the seat 70, a transport member is operated to move the spring into position between the respective anvils. The transport member comprises a square rod 69 (Figs. 2, 4 and which lies in said seat. The square rod 69 is carried by a member 83 mounted on a bracket 74. The

, bracket 74 is slidably mounted on a rod 75 and on a square bar 76. The bracket 74 is further provided with an angle-shaped piece35, which extends below the bar 76. Pinnedto the member 74 is a plate 77 having'an opening into which arod 78 projects. The rod 78 projects through a slot in a stationary bar 79 so that the rod may move in "said. slot. The rod 78 is secured to a member 85 of anadjusting member, which is adjustably connected to a secondadjustable member-81. I The member 81 has an arm projecting leftwardly (Fig. l5), which i pinned. to an upstanding bar 82, the lower end of which is formed toenter an opening in the before mentioned rack 26.

' Thus when the rack 26 is moved back and forth by the "power operating r-neansto rotate the cam disk 35, t. e

"spring into position on the anvils. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, thesquare rod 69 is provided with a tapered end, which normally overlies the lefthand anvil (Fig. 1).

' After the square rod 69 has fed the spring into position onthe antdla where it is arrested by a stop member 9!) (Fig. 1), the square rod 69 and the stop member are withdrawn.

As illustrated in Fig. 15,"the block 71 lies in a recess of a bracket 92. The bracket 92 is supported on a bar 93 carried by the upper plate 39.

Near the right end (Fig. 1), of the block 71 is a flange 95, carrying a roller 96. The roller 96 is engaged by a cam edge 97 on a rocking arm, hereinafter described, so that as the arm is lowered the cam edge 97 engaging the roller 96 shifts the flange 95, and the member '71'le'ftwardly (Fig. 1) to remove the end of the square rod 69 from above the anvil. At this time the bar 71 slides in the recess formed in the bar 92.

The stop member 96 is also provided with a flange 98, supporting a roller 99 lying in the path of movement of a cam edge 1% of a second arm, to be later described. As the arm bearing the cam edge lift} is lowered, it engages the roller 99 and shifts the stop member 90 rightwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. The stop member 90 is slidably mounted in a recess of a member 94, similar to the member 92, which in turn is mounted on a bar 91. A spring-actuated plunger 161 normally maintains the roller 99, together with the stop member 90, in proper position in relation to the cam member 195. An adjusting screw 102 is provided for readjusting the roller 99 in relation to the cam edge 1% when this becomes necessary.

As hereinbefore described, the arm 41 is rocked during machine operation to withdraw the stop 45 from the path of the next succeeding spring to be fed out of the tube 36. This rocking movement of the arm 41 is accomplished in the following manner. V a

The flange is beveled on its lefthand edge and lies in the path of an angle surface 105 (Fig. 2), formed on a plunger 196, slidably mounted in a bracket 197 (Fig. 5). The plunger 196 is secured to the upper end of the arm 41, and therefore, when the cam edge 97 engages the roller 96, the flange 95 is moved leftwardly to 'Fig. l. Leftward movement of the flange 95 causes its beveled edge to engage the beveled end 105 of the plunger 106, and rocking it leftwardly in Fig. 5. Leftward movement of the plunger 196 rocks the arm 4-1 in a counter-clockwise direction in the manner hereinbefore described, to release a spring from the feed tube 36. After the spring is released from the tube the stop means 40 is again moved into the path of the next succeeding spring to maintain it in the tube until the proper time during the machine cycling.

After the spring has been'released by the arm 40, the spring drops into the path of the pusher 46, and as this is operated in the manner hereinbefoer described, the spring is pushed into the V vnotch 7d of the member 71. Thereafter, when the rack 26 moves the bracket 82 and the connections therefrom to the square rod 69, the spring is pushed into position above anvils 129:and; 121 (Figs. 1. and 6), Where they rest onbars 1227and 123.

The bars 122 and 123 are also provided with notches 124 (Fig. 5), which are like the notches 71 The width of the bar 123 is determined by the length of the spring to be hooked. V V

The anvils and 121 are supported on the upper ends of shafts 118 and 1319 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7), respectively, adapted to slide in brackets 125 and 126, respectively. The bracket 12 5 is supported on the upper plate 39, and the bracket 126 is supported on upper plate 391. The shafts 118 and 119 project into threaded sleeves 127 and 128, respectively. The sleeve s is screwed into a tapped hole in the upperpla-te 39, and the sleeve 1 28 I 129 in an adjusted position, to properly space the tappet 129 from the plate 57.

When, during the operation of the machine, the plate 57 is raised by the cams 65 and 66 engaging the tappets 63 and 64, the plate 57 engaging the lower end of the tappets 129 raises the rods 118 and 119, and the anvils 120 and 121 slightly to lift the spring overlying the anvils, slightly toward the forming members hereinafter described.

Just before the anvils 120 and 121 are raised in the manner justdescribed, knives 131 and 131 (Figs 6 and 7) are lowered to engage two loops of each end of the spring to spread the loops in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. After the knives 130 and 131 have been lowered, the anvils 120 and 121 are raised to engage the loops spread by the knives 130 and 131, and simultaneously therewith upper anvils 132 and 133 are lowered to engage the upper end of the loops on the spring in the manner shown in Fig. 7.

As the anvils 120 and 132 and the anvils 121 and 133, respectively, move toward each other, the loops are formed on the ends of the springs.

The knife 138 is slidably mounted in the forward end of a rocking arm 135 (Fig. 2) and the knife 131 is slidably mounted in a rocking arm 136 (see also Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5). The rocking arm 136 is pivotally mounted on a stud 137 of a bracket 138 carried on the plate 391, and the rocking arm 135 is pivotally mounted on astud 134 of a bracket 138 carried by the plate 39. The arms 135and 136 are connected at their righthand end, as shown in Fig. 5, by a block 139 secured to the arm 136,

and having a slot 140 through which a bolt 141 passes to provide a means for adjusting the arms 135 and 136 in respect to each other, in a manner hereinafter described, and thus adjust the knives 130 and 131, to accommodate the length of spring on which loops are to be formed. The knives 13th and 131 are mounted in their respective arms 135 and 136, to slide up and down for fine adjustment. The adjusted position is determined by a bell crank 142, pivoted on a stud 143, on the respective arms 135 and 136. The upper end of the bell crank 143 is pressed against an adjusting stud 144 by a spring145, carried in a sleeve 146, forming a part of each arm 135 and 136. An adjusting screw 147 provides means for tensioning the spring 145. The adjusting stud 144 is mounted on a bracket 148, supported on the arm 135 and 136, respectively. A bar 150 (Figs. 2 andS) is mounted on the arm 136 and extends underneath the arm 135, and the bar 150 extends as far leftwardly (Fig. 2) as the adjusting bar 139. Therefore,

when the member 135 is adjusted for a particular length of spring to be looped, the bar 150 remains under the arm 135 so that the latter is rocked by the former. The

arms 135 and 136 are further connected by a rod 261 (Figs. 2, 4, and 5), carried by arm 136 and projecting through a hole in arm 135. The bar 151 normally lies in engagement with a plunger 151 (Fig. 5), which plunger is in the form of a sleeve which slides on a stud 152. The sleeve 151 is urged upwardly by a spring like the spring 169 within the sleeve 162. The stud 152 is provided with a rounded lower end engaging a cam 153 (see also Fig.

The lower end of an. adjusting screw 149 (Fig. 5) lies in the path of a plunger 154, the lower end of which is in the path of a cam 155 on the cam bar 156. As the cam disk 35 rocks in a clockwise direction (Fig. 10), the plunger 152 moves down on the cam 153, and the cam 155, engaging the lower edge of the plunger 154 raises said plunger, which in turn raises the righthand end (Fig. 5), of the arm 136, thus lowering the knife 131 to engage the loops on. the end of the spring to start the bar 139 and rod 261, the arm 135 rocks simultaneously with the arm 136 when the plunger 154 is raised '6 by the cam 155, thus lowering the knife into engagement with the left end (Fig. 6) of the spring to be looped, to begin forming the loop thereon.

After the loops have been formed by the knives 130 and 131, as shown in Fig. 6, the lower anvils 120 and 121 are raised in the manner hereinafter described. Simultaneously with the movement of the lower anvils 120 and 121, the upper anvils 132 and 133 are lowered, thus impinging the started loops on the springs to complete the formation thereof as shown in Fig. 7.

The anvil 133 (Fig. 9) is slidably mounted in a block 163 carried by the forward end of the arm 136. A plate 156, mounted on the front side of the arm 136, holds the anvil 133 in position in the slot formed in the block 163.

The anvil 133 is slotted to receive the rounded end 157 (Figs. 5 and 9) of an arm 158, pivoted on a stud 159 carried on a flange 160/ of the bracket 138. The righthand end (Fig. 5) of the arm 158 is provided with an adjustable screw 161, which is engaged by a plunger 162 at the proper time during a machine operation, thus rocking the arm 158 counter-clockwise (Fig. 5) around the stud 159, and lowering the anvil 133.

It will be noted that the arm 158 and the anvil 133 are carried by the arm 136, and therefore, when the arm 136 is rocked counter-clockwise (Fig. 5) in the manner hereinbefore described, the arm 153 will move therewith. Near the end of the forming operation, the plunger 162 is raised by a cam-178 in a manner hereinafter described, to rock the arm 158 and lower the anvil 133 to impinge the loop between the anvil 133 and the lower anvil 121, to complete the formation of the loop on the righthand end (Figs. 6 and 7) of the spring.

The anvil 132 is slidably mounted in a block 163 of the rockable arm 135. A plate 164 holds the anvil 132 in position, in a manner like the plate 156 hereinbefore described. The anvil 132 is engaged with the forward end of a rocking arm 165 pivoted on a stud 166 on a bracket 138, in a manner described for the arm 158. The arm 165 is provided with an adjustable screw 167, which screw 'is engaged by a plunger 170. The plungers 162 and 170 are slidably mounted on studs 171 and 172, respectively, both of which are urged upwardly by a spring mounted inside each of the plungers 162 and 178, as shown in Fig. 5, in respect to the plunger 162. The spring 169 in the plunger 162 urges the plunger upwardly until a slot 173 therein engages a stud 174 carried by the stud 171. The lower end of the stud 171 is mounted on a plate 175, and is secured thereto by means of a pin 176 (Fig. 8). The stud 171 projects below the plate and is provided with a rounded end 179 engageable by a cam edge 177 on the cam member 178 (Fig. 10), when the cam plate 35 is rocked in a clockwise direction, thus raising the stud 171 and, through the spring 169, raising the plunger 162 to engage the adjustable screw 161, to rock the arm 158 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) to lower the anvil 132 into position to engage the spring loop as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Since the stud 171 is secured to the plate 175, the plate 175 is also raised and in so doing engages the stud 172 to rock the arm 165 through the plunger 170, which is spring-actuated in the same manner :as described for the plunger 162. Engagement of the stud 167 by the plunger 170 rocks the arm 165 to lower the upper anvil 132 into engagement with the spring on the lower anvil 120 (Fig. 7) to form the loop on the lefthand end of the spring, as indicated in Fig.7.

Secured to the plate 175 is a stud 186, which stud is engaged by a cam 18-1 on a cam bar 182 of the cam plate The lefthand end of the plate 175 (Fig. 8) is secured to a plate 185 (see also Fig. 4), which plate is suspended on two rods 186 carried by plate 29. Springs 187 carried on the rods 186 form a cushioning effect for the operation of the bar 175. Thus the studs 171, engaged by thecam 178, and the rod engaged by the. cam

' 182, act to raise the bar 175 and thereby raise the plunger 162, and since the stud 1'72 overlies the bar 175, said bar is also raised, and therefore, both arms 1'58 and 165 are rocked to lower the respective anvils 133 and 132.

The purpose of locating the stud 172 above the plate 175, and operating the stud 172 through 'theplate 175, is to allow the stud 172 to be adjusted with the arm 165 to provide for looping springs of various lengths in the manner hereinafter more fully pointed out.

After the loops have been formed on the ends of the spring, the arms 135 and 136, together with the anvil operating arms 165 and 158- are restored upwardly into their normal positions. Thereafter, a knock-out finger 190 (Fig. 5) is actuated to eject the looped spring from the notches 124. The knock-out member 190 is provided with a flange 191 secured to an arm 192 secured to a vertical shaft 193. The vertical shaft 193 is supported in a sliding block 194 having a base 195 resting'on the plate 391. The vertical shaft 193 extends through an elongated slot in the frames 391 and 29, and projects into -a slot 196 (Fig. 8) of a slide 197. The slide 197 is supported in three brackets 198, and is spring-urged toward the front of the machine by four springs 199. The rear end of the slide 197 is provided with a bracket 200 (see also Fig. 5) into which projects a reduced end of an arm 201. The lower end of the arm 201 is provided with an adjustable screw 2412, which is threaded into a threaded opening in the lower end of the arm 201, and is held in adjusted position by lock nuts 203.

The springs 199, acting on the slide 197, maintains the adjusting screw 202 normally in engagement with a segment 2% (Fig. 10), the latter being one member of a time release mechanism for the knockout member 190.

The segment 2114 is provided with a slot 205, through which a screw 296 projects, and which screw is mounted in the cam plate 35, and therefore rotates therewith. A spring 207, between the stud 2G6 and a shoulder 208, formed on the segment 294 normally tends to rock the segment 294 in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 10) around the shaft 29. Mounted on the segment 294 is a stud 299, heid in engagement with a shoulder 210,

formed on a segment 211, rotatably mounted on the shaft 20. The segment 211 is provided with a slot 212 to receive a stud 213, carried by a third segment 214-. The

segment 21d is provided with a recess 215 for receiving one end of a spring 216, the other end of which is engaged with a stud 217 on the segment 204.

During the operation of the machine the cam disk 35 'is rocked first counter-clockwise and then clockwise (Fig. 10), back to home position, in the mannerhereinbefore described. During counter-clockwise rotation of the cam plate 35, the adjusting screw 202 rides on the periphery of the segment 2M, and when this segment passes the adjusting screw 262 the segment 2.14, prevents movement of the adjusting screw, together with the stud 231 and link 197 to prevent operation of the knockout member 190.

Fig. 11 illustrates the position of the adjusting screw 202, just as the segment 204 is passing from beneath it. Then the segment 214 prevents movement of the adjusting screw 292 until the segment 211 passes beneath the adjusting screw 2112, as illustrated in Fig. 12. 7

During the return or counter-clockwise movement of the cant member 35, a earn-member 220 controls the movement of a stop pawl 221, to permit the stop memher 221 to move into the path of movement of a shoulder 222 of the segment 211, thus arresting movement of the segment, and permitting the adjusting-screw 262 tomove downwardly past the member 214, as illustrated in Fig. 13. Arresting the member 211, through the stud 299, also arrests the segment 294, thus permitting the adjusting screw 292 and the arm 201 to move into the position shown in Fig. 13. a Thestop member 221 is pivoted on a bracket 225,

(Fig; 1), carried on the, underside of the plate '29.

illustrated in Fig; 13.

When the arm 201 is permitted to move, the springs 199 .move the slide 197 (Fig. 8) forwardly, which, through the shaft 193 shifts the block 194, arm 192, and flange 193, together with a knock-out member 190 leftwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to eject the looped spring from the notches 124, whereupon the spring drops into a hopper in any well known manner.

As above mentioned, the arms 135 and 136 may be adjusted relatively to each other to accommodate springs of various lengths. is on a plate 391, which is secured to the plate 29, and is not adjustable thereon. The plate 39 is movable to carry the bracket 138 and arm 135 leftwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to space the knives and 131 and the 'anvils 132 and 133, together with the lower anvils 120 and 121, relatively to each other, to provide the above mentioned spacing for springs of various lengths. Normally the plate 39 is held in position by two screws 25% and 251. When it is desired to adjust the plate 39, the screws 25%) and 251 are loosened, which screws pass through "slots in the plate 39 and set in the plate 29. An extension 252 (Figs. 2, 4, and 8) is formed on the plate 39 and extends downwardly to receive an adjusting screw "253. The extension 252 is secured to the plate 39 by two screws 254 (Fig. 4). The screw 253 is threaded into a bracket 255 (Fig. 8) on the under side of the plate 29. A lock nut 256 is provided 'on each side of block 252 to lock the plate 39 in its adjusted position. To adjust the plate 39 one lock nut 256 is loosened and the screw 253 rotated. Since the screw is threaded into the bracket 255, rotation of the screw 253 causes it to move the plate 39 the extent necesary to accommodate the length of the spring being looped.

As the plate 39 is moved by the adjusting screw 253,

.the arm 135 is moved on the rods 260 and 261, which rods 'are secured in the arm 136, so that the two arms 135 and 136 will move in unison during any operation of the machine. The length of the studs 260 and 261 are determined by the maximum length of springs to be looped by the machine.

A dial gauge 262 is provided to provide for fine adjustments of the plate 39. The dial gauge is mounted on a movable plate 263 and is held thereon by set screws 264, which are located in, slots of the plate 263.

A rod 265 is secured on the plate 391 and is clamped thereon by set screws 266 fastened through a bracket 267, so the rod 265 can be adjusted in thebracket 267 in relation to a feeler 268 of the dial gauge 262, so that fine adjustments can be made of the plate 29 and the elements secured therto.

until arrested'by theblock 44. This positions the spring in front of the stop means 40, and thereafter, when the stop means is restored to its stopping position, the spring is pushed out of the sleeve 36, whereupon the spring drops down a chute until it comes to rest in a notched block 48 and lies in the path of a pusher 46. The pusher 46 then forces the spring into a seat '70 in a block 71. A transport member 69 transports the spring into positionon the-anvils12t'i and 121, as illustrated in Figs. 6

As before mentioned, the arm 136' and 7. Thereafter the arms 135 and 136 are rocked to lower the knives 130 and 131 into engagement with the ends of the spring to spread a loop on each end thereof, as shown in Fig. 6. After the knives have been lowered to spread the loops, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the arms 158 and 165 are rocked to lower the upper anvils 132 and 133, respectively. At the same time, the lower anvils 120 and 121 are raised, and the combined movements of the upper and lower anvils impinge the loops of the springs and bend them into fixed formation, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7. After the knives and the anvils are restored to normal position, a knock-out member 190 forces the looped spring off the anvils, whereupon they drop into a receiving hopper, not shown.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for simultaneously looping the two ends of a coil spring, the combination of machine drive means; means actuated by said drive means for spreading an end helix from each of the two ends of said spring; means actuated by said drive means for engaging and forming each of the spread helices into a loop; said forming means comprising two sets of spaced-apart anvils, the anvils of one set adapted to move relatively one to another to form one helix therebetween, and the anvils of the other set adapted to move relatively one to another, to form the other helix therebetween; said drive means actuating said spreading means prior to the actuation of the loop-forming means; and said drive means actuating said loop-forming means to simultaneously form both loops during a single machine operation.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said drive means comprises a disk having a plurality of individual cam surfaces thereon; said spreading means has a cam follower extending into the path of one of said cam surfaces; and said forming means has a cam follower extending into the path of another of said cam surfaces; said cam surfaces, upon rotation of said cam disk, actuating said spreading and forming means sequentially, one in relation to the other.

3. In a machine for simultaneously looping both ends of the coil spring, the combination of-rest means for receiving and positioning said spring to be looped; machine drive means; means actuated by said drive means for spreading a helix from each end of said spring; a pair of anvils actuated by said drive means, each located on opposing sides of said rest means; and a second pair of anvils actuated by said drive means, each spaced a distance from an anvil of said first pair; said drive means actuatring said spreading means prior to the actuation of said anvils; and said drive means actuating said first and second anvils simultaneously for engaging and forming therebetween the spread helices into loops during a single machine operation.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which there is provided a pair of planar machine frames, one of which is movable relatively to the other and to said drive means; a

rockable arm is carried by each of said frames; said spreading means comprises a knife earned by each of said arms; said second anvils are respectively carried by each of said arms; said first anvils are respectively carried by each of said planar frames; means is provided for interconnecting said rockable arms for simultaneous rocking movement upon actuation by said drive means; and means is provided for shifting said one frame in relation to the other, thereby adjusting the spreading means and anvils to accommodate springs of various lengths.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which calibrated setting means is provided for fine adjustments of said one frame in relation to the other; said means comprising a dial gauge mounted on said one frame; an adjusting rod mounted on the other frame; and a feeler member carried by said gauge normally abutting a free end of said rod to set said gauge at zero position; said rod being shiftable a distance along said other frame for setting said gauge beyond zero and in accordance with a desired frame movement; and said gauge returning to zero position upon moving said one frame said distance.

6. In a machine for simultaneously looping both ends of a coil spring, the combination of spring rest means; means for spreading an end helix from each end of said spring; lower, movable anvils located adjacent each end of the spring; upper, movable anvils coacting with said lower anvils to form each spread helix into a loop; and machine drive means actuating said spreading means, lower anvils, and upper anvils, in a timed sequence to form both loops during a single operatlon of the machine.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said spreading means comprises a pair of knives, each of which is slidably carried by a pair of spaced-apart rockable arms; said arms are interconnected one to another to move as a unit; and said drive means actuates said arms to spread a helix on each end of the spring prior to actuation of said upper and lower anvils in forming loops therefrom.

8. The structure of claim 7 including a pair of rockable levers, each of which is pivotally mounted on a rockable arm and connected to an upper anvil; said levers are interconnected one to another to move as a unit; and said drive means actuates said lever unit simultaneously with said lower anvils in forming loops from the helices spread by said knives.

9. The structure of claim 7 in which said lower anvils, upon actuation by said drive means, move a distance sufficient to yieldingly retract said spreading knives and position said formed loops approximately axially of said coil spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,520 Sanker Dec. 24, 1901 1,083,223 Sleeper Dec. 30, 19l3 1,311,187 Sleeper July 29, 1919 1,873,626 Nigro Aug. 23, 1932 2,123,752 Soderstrom July 12, 1938 2,505,942 Burge et al. May 2, 1950 2,703,592 Penny Mar. 8, 1955 

